Caprock Chief

As of 2010[update], any such trip would require changing trains in Illinois or California, a detour of over a thousand miles.

In the past there have been proposals to re-route the existing Sunset Limited (Los Angeles—Orlando) farther north to serve the Fort Worth—Sweetwater segment.

[2] The impetus for the route came from the Texas Association of Rail Passengers (TARP), which lobbied local governments to support the concept.

[6] Commenting on the proposal, representative Mac Thornberry warned that "Having Amtrak service through the Panhandle would be a good thing for our region...but it won't be easy.

"[7] By 2004 the president of the TARP acknowledged that the proposal was dead: "It's probably years off before this can be considered...We figure you've got to start talking about it at some point.

The proposed route of the Caprock Chief would follow the existing BNSF Railway , shown here as it climbs the Caprock Escarpment of the Llano Estacado between Southland and Post, Texas .